Kilimanjaro Expedition Dispatch

August 20, 2012 – The Summit

First part: Stella point

It is 3 o’clock in the afternoon and I am calling you from Stella Point almost 5,800 meter above sea level, the crater rim of Kilimanjaro. It is Shelley Harris 50th birthday. Our entire team has climbed all the way up to the crater of Kilimanjaro, all 16 of us have walked up to Stella Point a few minutes ago. Shelley and Jim, the birthday girl and Jim, Remi and Pascale, Lynne, Philippe, Stephanie, Marielle, Jos , Merran and Liz, Joe, John and Suzy, Teresa and Ross, each walked up to Stella Point to a gathering of Berg Adventures staff especially singing happy birthday to Shelley, singing a lot of other songs . The cooks were standing there with serving platters of Red Bull which everyone really appreciated after more than 6 and ½ hours they moved from our snowy camp, that you saw below, all the way to the top of the crater rim of Kilimanjaro. We still got ways to go but we are going to stop and have lunch here , our crater camp is being erected as we speak and after lunch who knows we might continue out towards Uhuru .

Listen to Wally's call: Stella point

Second part: Uhuru peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro

It is 5pm on the 20th of August, Shelley Harris 50th birthday. All 16 climbing members have stood on the very summit, Uhuru peak, the roof of Africa, the top of Kilimanjaro. It was a tough climb and people pushed through some real hard times today physically and mentally and I am extremely proud of this team. It is my 50th time (Wally Berg) standing here on Uhuru point. Over the years I have never been here with a finer group and it is really an honor standing up here with this team today. Congratulations to all of them and stay tuned for updates in our adventures as we continue.

Listen to Wally's call: Uhuru peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro